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My family has a vacation house in Colorado that they rarely ever use. I don’t think any of them even remember its existence. Except me. Which is why it’s the perfect place for me to go to anytime I need to lie low for a couple of days. And that’s what I decide to do when it becomes clear I’m never going to get a clear enough head to make a decision about my future while in New York.
The plan is simple. Relax for a couple of days, take a break for the rest of the world. I’ve been here for two days and it’s going well. I’ve mostly been indoors because it’s fucking freezing in Boulder this time of the year, but it suits me perfectly.
I climb onto the treadmill in the house, powering it up before beginning a slow jog. I’ve managed to work up a sweat when I receive a call. I step off the treadmill to grab my phone and answer.
“Hello?”
“Graham, my man!” the voice on the other end says enthusiastically. “It’s me, Sloane. We partied together last year when you were in town.”
“Oh, right,” I say dully. I vaguely remember a short blonde man who invited me to a party one night. “Sloane. How have you been?”
“I’ve been good, man. Hey so I saw that the lights were on in your house. Are you in town?”
“Yeah.”
“That’s great, man. We missed you here. Listen, there’s a party going on in town. Bunch of college alumni or some shit. It’ll be great. You should come,” he says slowly, sounding very much like he’s high.
I briefly wonder how we even met in the first place. But knowing the company I tend to keep, it’s not surprising.
“I think I’ll pass. But thanks for the invitation.”
“Really? You’ve been coming to Boulder for years and I always see you at parties,” Sloane presses.
“I could be there in spirit. Who knows: If you squint really hard, maybe you’ll see me,” I say jokingly.
Sloane, of course, takes me literally. “That would be crazy, man. You’d be like a ghost or some shit.”
I chuckle. Yeah, he’s definitely high. “Thanks again for the invitation.”
“Alright. Bet. But I’ll text you the location. Just in case you change your mind.”
I hang up, sure I’m not going to be taking him up on his offer. If I want to change and become a better version of myself, I think the first step would be putting my partying frat boy ways behind me.
I’m about to get back to my work out when my phone rings again. I groan softly at the sight of my sister’s face flashing across the screen. I consider not picking up, but knowing Mikayla, she’ll just call repeatedly until I do.
“Hey, little sis,” I say upon answering the video call.
Her face fills the screen. She’s seated in her office at the company. I take in the dark skyline of the city behind her.
“Graham, you dumbass. Where the hell are you?”
“Why? Did someone die?” I question, moving away from the living area to the kitchen to grab a can of Coke.
“No. And don’t say that,” she hisses. “Where are you?”
“Why do you want to know?”
Her brown eyes narrow. “Gray, do you realize that in all my twenty-five years of knowing you, you have never answered a question directly before. Would it kill you once in a while to just reply honestly?”
I shrug. “Probably.”
“Just tell me where you are!” she screeches.
I’m a little startled by it. “I’m at the vacation house in Boulder, geez.”
“Vacation house? You’re in Boulder right now? Isn’t it cold this time of the year?”
“Yeah, a little, but this house happens to have an exceptional heater, plus heated floors. Keeps everything nice and toasty.”
